Sideline report: Brantley tough

Saturday

Oct 29, 2011 at 10:07 PM

Coming into Saturday’s game, few would have given senior starter John Brantley the edge in a head-to-head comparison with Georgia’s Aaron Murray, who entered as the Southeastern Conference’s second-leading passer.

By Jeff BarlisStaff writer

Best and worst

Best startComing into Saturday’s game, few would have given senior starter John Brantley the edge in a head-to-head comparison with Georgia’s Aaron Murray, who entered as the Southeastern Conference’s second-leading passer. But there was Brantley helping to stake Florida to a 17-3 lead with a strong first half. In the first quarter, the gimpy Brantley was particularly productive, going 6-of-12 for 164 yards and one touchdown. His counterpart was 5-of-7 for 43 yards and an interception.

Worst payoffTrue freshman Marcus Roberson’s diving interception was Florida’s first turnover since the Kentucky game. Maybe the Gator offense didn’t know what to do with field position at the Georgia 13-yard line. Wildcat QB Trey Burton was stuffed for a 4-yard loss. Brantley was sacked twice for 16 yards lost, and then a false-start penalty moved UF back to the Georgia 38. The backward drive ended with a punt into the end zone for a Bulldogs touchback. So basically it took five plays and just over two minutes for UGA to advance from its 13 yard-line to its 20.

Worst nagging issueFlorida’s coaching staff said it used the bye week to get the team a mental break from the game and then come back to work on fundamentals. It didn’t show, as the same undisciplined, mistake-prone Gators showed up. Florida had 14 penalties for 106 yards on Saturday. The Gators came into the game with an SEC-worst 61 penalties for 461 yards in seven games.

Stats of the gameFlorida’s offensive production nearly came to a halt in the second half. The Gators had one first down and 32 total yards, including just 19 yards passing. UF had 226 yards passing in the first half.

Play of the gameIt’s always news when the fastest man in college sports is caught from behind, as Jeff Demps was on the Gators’ first play of the game. It was a 72-yard catch and run that seemed to indicate the senior was still feeling the effects of an ankle injury suffered against Alabama on Oct. 1. But Demps came back to return a kickoff 99 yards in the second quarter. He displayed his usual blazing speed in running untouched for his first career kickoff return touchdown.

What's up with that?Since leading the SEC in rushing through this season’s first four games, Florida’s running game has been going in reverse. The Gators had minus-19 yards rushing in Saturday’s game. But there’s more to those statistics. With Brantley’s right ankle limiting his mobility, the quarterback was forced to take sacks in an attempt to avoid big hits and he was limited in his ability to hand the ball off. Georgia finished with six sacks for 43 yards.

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